Need Some? 

Starting your manuscript is easy. 

You scribble some ideas. Lean back in your chair and dream a little. Make some coffee or tea. Sit down and jot down more ideas. Maybe  even begin chapter 1.

But somewhere along the way, it’s so easy to lose focus. Suddenly, a month later, chapter 1 still remains unfinished.

How do you finish your manuscript when no one is breathing down your neck, demanding you get it done?

Please join me!

Welcome to the Power Writers Report, our weekly update, packed full of powerful writing tips, productivity tools, platform-building strategies, author best practices, resources, and free stuff. 

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Let's Talk About That Brain Of Yours

Let’s begin with two assumptions…

Assumption #1. You have ADHD. I know I repeat myself (at least that’s what my family tells me!), but I always begin writing with the assumption that my audience has ADHD.

And if it’s true for your audience, then it’s true for you.

YOU. HAVE. ADHD. 

Just admit it.

Web surfing, video games, NFL Red Zone, Facebook, TikTok, and a host of other brain titillators have shortened our attention spans.

Twenty years ago, I could write nonstop for six to eight hours a day. Nowadays, I’m good for about two hours at a time, twice a day at best.

Assumption #2. Multitasking doesn’t work. Sure, you can watch TV and cook dinner at the same time, or even answer emails during your Zoom meetings at work (you didn’t think I noticed), but multitasking and productivity don’t mix. It decreases your brainpower.

In certain situations and with low-profile tasks, multitasking can work. But you can’t multitask while doing the stuff that involves serious brain work, like writing your novel.

Your brainpower is a finite source. The more directions you channel it at once, the less brainpower you have for a given activity.

And no, my wife nor you are the exception to the rule.

Your brain needs time and space to write that transcendent book. 

So, how do you focus? 

In previous PWRs, we’ve covered some of the basics:

• Blocking out time in your schedule. 
• Creating the right writing environment 
• Working for 20 minutes before giving yourself a break—that’s how long the human brain can focus before it needs to rest.

I’m assuming you have that part down. 

What we're going to look at it is how you get to the "sitting down in the chair to seriously write" point. 

Everyday life throws plenty of distractions your way that can take you away from what you really want to do. Next thing you know, it’s 9 weeks later, and you haven’t made a dent in your manuscript.

Finishing your book requires a mental commitment. Then, you need to organize your life around that commitment while being mindful about how you are spending your time and the opportunity cost. 

Focus So You Can Finish

Here are three ways you can focus and finish your manuscript:

#1. Prioritize what’s important.

Our lives are filled with many tasks. To-do lists are never-ending, and life seems to go by more quickly as we age. Therefore, it’s imperative that you set aside time for what matters most. 

Don’t let the thousands of little to-dos stop you from doing your one big to-do: finishing your book. 

Living by your priorities means learning to say "no" to the good so you can accomplish your best.

Obviously, I'm not advocating that you sacrifice your important relationships in order for you to get that manuscript done. But it might mean temporarily paring them back.

#2. Set boundaries around your work. 

Some people like working to timers; others don’t. Either way, you need to set criteria for how you will know you’ve done the work. Maybe that’s when your 20-minute timer goes off, or when you’ve written at least 500 words. 

Remember that you still need to take breaks. These are well-deserved and necessary to replenish those tired brain cells. Just make sure you set boundaries around your breaks, too—don’t let a half hour of relaxation turn into binge-watching a Netflix TV series.

#3. Focus on less to achieve more. 

This is one of my (many) problems. I promise myself that I’m going to finish chapter 12 this week…and three weeks later I’m still working on it. Then I feel guilty because I didn’t hit the deadline. Sometimes, it even keeps me up at night.

Don’t give yourself too much to do. 

Read that again.

Remember the fable about the tortoise and the hare. The hare was running all over the place (he absolutely had ADHD!) while the tortoise plodded along and won the race.

Value the quality of your work over the quantity. Trust me, I’d rather read one chapter that’s well-written, incisive, and thought-provoking than an entire book that’s so-so.

Start with a small goal for each writing session, then check in at the end to see if you accomplished it. If you didn’t, maybe you need to start with a smaller goal.

Baby steps.

Remember, productivity does not mean getting the most things done. It means getting done what matters most. 

Isn't It Time You Put Some Skin In The Game?

I know one other thing that can help you sit down in the chair to seriously write: putting some skin in the game.

Knowing you have a plan for what you're going to do with your manuscript once it's finished will help you get it finished. 

Investing in that plan may be all you need to finish your bestseller.

Let’s explore your dreams for your book and then let's strategize how to make it happen.

Click here to schedule a no-obligation consultation with me.

Let’s bring your book to life!